Effect of Turkish classical music on prenatal anxiety and satisfaction: A randomized controlled trial in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of music therapy on anxiety and satisfaction in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Design, setting and subjects: A randomized controlled trial was performed on 70 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia hospitalized in the research and application hospital of Kahramanmaras Sütcü İmam University between December 2012 and February 2014. The subjects were allocated to experimental or control groups in a random manner (n=35 each).

Interventions: Pregnant women in the experimental group were subject to a 30min Turkish classical music therapy trial each day for a period of 7days (5days before and 2days after labor) whereas those in the control group received routine care and also were assigned to 30min of bed rest a day. The Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale were administered to participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, student t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test where appropriate.

Main outcome measures: Outcome measures were anxiety scale scores, satisfaction scale scores, vital signs, fetal movement and fetal heart rate.

Results: The differences between anxiety scores were not statistically significant (p>0.05). On the other hand, Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale scores of the experiment group were higher than the control group (p<0.01). Finally, when considering fetal movement counts, a significant increase was determined in the experiment group, whereas Music Therapy had a minimalizing effect on fetal heart rate and a lowering effect on blood pressure (p<0.05).

Conclusion: It may be suggested that nurses and midwives can utilize music therapy in the care and follow-up of pregnant women with preeclampsia in obstetrics units.

Keywords: Anxiety; Music therapy; Pre-eclampsia; Satisfaction.